Background: Acalypha godseffiana is an important plant used as an ornamental and herbs; its leaves are used in the management of diseases like diabetes in Eastern Nigeria. Aim:The study aims at linking the hypoglycemic activity extracts of leaves of A. godseffiana to their polyphenolic contents.Setting: Fresh leaves of A. godseffiana were obtained from Imo State, Nigeria, identified in University of Lagos Herbarium, air-dried, pulverized and kept for investigations. Method:The phytochemical compositions and antioxidant potentials of acetone, aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts of A. godseffiana were determined using adopted methods. An in-vitro approach was used to evaluate the hypoglycemic potentials of the extracts on α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes. The mechanism of inhibitions was studied using the Lineweaver-Burk plot.Results: Antioxidant results revealed that total antioxidant capacity of the acetone extract (IC50: 0.34 mg/mL) showed better activity compared to the standards (silymarin 0.52 mg/mL; gallic acid 0.51 mg/mL). The hypoglycemic findings confirmed that acetone extract demonstrated strong and mild inhibitory potential against α-amylase and α-glucosidase respectively, showing concentration dependent with IC 50 values of 2.33 mg/mL and 0.13 mg/mL. The observed hypoglycemic and antioxidant potentials of acetone extract of A. godseffiana correlate to its high polyphenolic contents which include phenols (133.20 mg gallic acid g -1 ), flavonoid (350.60 mg quercetin g -1 ) and tannins (264.67 mg catechin g -1 ). The mechanisms of action exhibited by the acetone extract were uncompetitive and mixed non-competitive which can be attributed to its inhibitory properties on α-glucosidase and α-amylase respectively. Conclusion:The results obtained from this study validate the acetone leaves extract of A. godseffiana as potential agent in management of sugar related disorder.

Moringa oleifera (Moringa) is a highly valued plant and various parts of this plant are employed for the therapeutic purposes in the indigenous system of medicine. This study was undertaken to compare the phytochemical, mineral, proximate and antioxidant constituents of the aqueous, ethanol and coconut oil extracts of M. oleifera leaf, seed and pod. Pulverized samples of the leaves, seeds and pods were extracted separately with distilled water, ethanol and coconut oil. The proximate analysis was carried out using standard AOAC protocols while the mineral contents were analyzed through atomic absorption spectrometry. The phytochemicals and antioxidants constituents of the extracts were analysed using standard protocols. The phytochemical screening of M. oleifera revealed the presence of alkaloids in each extract of the leaf, seed and pod in varying concentrations with the absence of phlobatannins in all sampled parts. Proximate composition of M. oleifera revealed higher percentage of crude protein (26.05±0.01 %) and total fatty acid (5.42±0.01 %) in the seed, while the leaf had higher percentage of fibre (8.12±0.02 %) and ash (7.82±0.02 %). The pod showed higher percentage of carbohydrate (72.05±0.2 %) and the seed revealed lowest moisture content (3.12±0.01 %) compared to other sampled parts. Sodium was revealed as the highest composition of mineral in each part of the plant. The result for antioxidant activity revealed that the leaf, seed and pod extracts have stronger scavenging effect on nitric oxide radical compared to the standards (ascorbic acid 8467.15μg/ml) and the least scavenging effect on FRAP. The results obtained from this study validate the pharmacological and nutritional potentials of M. oleifera and its use in treating different ailments as used in traditional medicine.

Background: Cognitive impairment is a common comorbidity in epilepsy with no definitive treatment. L-arginine has been shown to improve cognition in experimental animals. Objective: This study investigated the effect of L-arginine on seizure severity and cognition in pentylenetetrazole-induced epilepsy. Materials and Methods: Forty-two male albino rats were administered pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) intraperitoneally at a dose of 35 mg/kg thrice weekly for 6 weeks. Kindled rats were divided into 5 treatment groups: DW; control administered distilled water at 10 mL/kg, LMT; lamotrigine at 62 mg/kg daily, CBZ; carbamazepine at 93 mg/kg twice daily, L-ARG; L-arginine at 100 mg/kg daily, and L-ARG+CBZ; L-arginine at 100 mg/kg daily plus carbamazepine 93 mg/kg twice daily orally. At 4 weeks on treatment, antiseizure effect was tested using sub-convulsive dose of PTZ. At week 5, cognition was assessed using Y-maze and Morris Water-Maze (MWM) tests. Serum samples were obtained for nitro-oxidative stress parameters assay at week 6. Results: There was no significant difference in seizure severity in the L-ARG versus control groups. However, L-ARG+CBZ significantly (p<0.001) increased seizure latency and reduced (p<0.05) Racine stage and seizure duration compared to DW. L-ARG and L-ARG+CBZ also significantly increased (p<0.05) percentage correct alternation and reduced (p<0.01) escape latency versus DW. There were no significant differences in serum nitro-oxidative stress parameters between the groups. Conclusion: L-arginine potentiated the antiepileptic effect of carbamazepine and improved cognition in epileptic rats. L-arginine may be repurposed for managing cognitive dysfunction in epilepsy, but the precise mechanism(s) of action needs to be investigated.

Synsepalum dulcificum, a potent natural sweetener, is notably used in the traditional treatment of Diabetes mellitus in Nigeria though scientific explanation for its use is not well known. In this study, the phytochemical, proximate and hypoglycemic potential of the leaf and stem extracts (ethanol and aqueous) of S. dulcificum were investigated. The phytochemical and proximate analysis were carried out using a standard protocol. In-vivo assay protocols on alloxan-induced diabetic albino rats was followed in determining the hypoglycemic potentials of the extracts (concentrations: 100 mg/Kg, 200 mg/Kg, 400 mg/Kg), using glibenclamide as a standard drug. The aqueous leaf extract gave a higher yield (19.67%) compared to ethanolic extract (17.15%). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, tannins, phenols, steroids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids in varying degrees in the plant’s parts. Proximate analysis showed higher lipid (23.30%) and protein (12.94%) in leaves and higher fibre content in stems (30.00%). The aqueous leaf extract at a high dose (400 mg/kg) gave the best glucose lowering effect (66.67 mg/dL) compared to the medium dose (78.33 mg/dL) and the standard drug (70.00 mg/dL). The albino rats were unable to survive at the lower dose (100 mg/kg) of all the extracts. The observed hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous leaf extract may be linked to significant tannins, flavonoids and saponins in the extract, as these phytochemicals have been reported to exhibit blood sugar lowering potentials. The results from this study confirmed that the leaf aqueous extract as a potential anti-diabetic agent and justified the folkloric use of Synsepalum dulcificum in the management of diabetes mellitus in Nigeria.